Should have drafted defense instead of Escobar, Randle, T-Will, Street

[khiladi]

Exactly my point. Some people here believe JG and Jerry has this grand plan. We all just need to wait 8 years to see it all come to fruition while you have guys like Chip Kelly, Harbaugh brothers, and Bruce Arians doing more in less time.

All JG has done is try to copy others. First it was the Partriots Now it's the 49ners/Seattle. Next year it'll probably be the EaGirls offense.

The irony of this whole thing is the ONE constant for Jerry, outside of Romo, has been Jason Garrett and his playbook. Why has Jerry changed everything but kept Garrett, including not only changin Dc but actual schemes?

With Garrett, he doesn't fire him but just gets people to hold his hands.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Why has Jerry changed everything but kept Garrett

If you haven't figured it out or understand by now you never will.

 

[perrykemp]

The Escobar pick was made a few years back when Jerry was talking about the 2 TE offense that NE was running with Hernandez and Gronkowski. It has nothing to do with going back to being run-focused and it was before Linehan was here or in fact when Callahan became OC for that year.

The Linehan move was made to improve play-calling, including emphasizing the run more. They never really viewed the problem from a lack of talent on offense.

If you actually look at our drafting, it's been bad in relation to an actual 'process'. It shows more lack of direction in reality. Just take a look at our draft class the year we picked Frederik. We actually were targeting Floyd for defense and this team was actually looking at defense as the problem.

Martinelli didn't want him and the change to Frederik happened last minute. Then look at the rest of our picks with offense, with guys like Dunbar.

Martin was fourth on the list of picks, with Dallas wanting defense. And the strength of this team is now OL.

Good post.

Best summarized in three words: 'Constantly changing philosophies'.

 

[TonyRomo17]

I mean just compare our offense talent to New England. they only have an advantage at TE and arguably QB, and yet they are the 2nd in PPG and they have done it vs good defenses.

 

[khiladi]

I mean just compare our offense talent to New England. they only have an advantage at TE and arguably QB, and yet they are the 2nd in PPG and they have done it vs good defenses.

Wade Phillips had a length interesting interview and he singles out one of the biggest 'advantages' offenses have today by referencing Denver and NE doing it all the time, which he thinks should not be legal.

It's related to offensive WRs essentially running blocking for other players to get open, when the ball is in the air. If you take a look at our offense, you will find it non-existent and it doesn't work when your WRs are running down the field all day.

http://thebiglead.com/2014/11/12/a-long-conversation-with-wade-phillips/


WP: The thing that scares me is they’re really letting offensive guys block you while the ball’s in the air. I see Denver and New England players almost doing that by design. Last year, they let them do that on the goal-line. I just hate to see them working toward the college game. If you blitz in college, and then the offense blocks your other defenders downfield, they’ll kill you on those screens. I’m worried that the NFL is letting that get away from them a little bit, but they want scoring. It really is unfair to let these teams use a player to block a guy while another of their receivers is going to catch the ball.

 

[TonyRomo17]

Wade Phillips had a length interesting interview and he singles out one of the biggest 'advantages' offenses have today by referencing Denver and NE doing it all the time, which he thinks should not be legal.

It's related to offensive WRs essentially running blocking for other players to get open, when the ball is in the air. If you take a look at our offense, you will find it non-existent and it doesn't work when your WRs are running down the field all day.

http://thebiglead.com/2014/11/12/a-long-conversation-with-wade-phillips/


WP: The thing that scares me is they’re really letting offensive guys block you while the ball’s in the air. I see Denver and New England players almost doing that by design. Last year, they let them do that on the goal-line. I just hate to see them working toward the college game. If you blitz in college, and then the offense blocks your other defenders downfield, they’ll kill you on those screens. I’m worried that the NFL is letting that get away from them a little bit, but they want scoring. It really is unfair to let these teams use a player to block a guy while another of their receivers is going to catch the ball.

yeah Denver still does it a lot, but New England has stopped doing that this year. I recall a game where they got called like 4 or 5 times in a game for doing it.

 

[xwalker]

I do think we are going to end up needing Escobar to be a real player during the course of his contract. Witten was never a speed guy, but he now looks like someone who can't win 1-on-1 matchups.

I think it's at the point that they need to cut back Witten's snaps. He plays almost 100% of the offense snaps.

I think Escobar would be better filling in for Witten a few plays per game than he is as a 2nd TE. The 2nd TE is really a different position than the primary TE.

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

Wade Phillips had a length interesting interview and he singles out one of the biggest 'advantages' offenses have today by referencing Denver and NE doing it all the time, which he thinks should not be legal.

It's call a pick and it's not legal. The NFL just doesn't enforce because they want more offense.

 

[Zman5]

Escobar was drafted to be part of LAST YEAR's offensive philosophy... remember -- running the "12", two TEs, etc....

This year the Cowboys are using Linehan's offensive philosophy. Now that second TE has to be a blocker, not a pass receiver. With that, now Hanna is on the field instead of Escobar.

Next year, there is at least a 50% chance the Cowboys will have yet ANOTHER offensive philosophy. Don't give up on Escobar -- maybe he'll fit in next year's offensive philosophy.

Exactly. My post wasn't anything negative about Escobars ability. I'm sure he can light it up if he was drafted by NE.

I was just making a point that some people try to make it sound like that JG and Jerry had this grand plan in 2011 to have a run heavy offense like this year. If they did they would not have drafted a TE like Escobar in the 2nd round last year.

 

[KJJ]

Out of all the player mentioned, Escobar pick is the biggest head scratcher. If there was this plan to run more where the TEs are blocking more than catching passes, you don't use 2nd round pick to get him.

If the plan was to run more Eddie Lacy should have been the pick I said that on draft day 2013. Murray was coming off an injury plagued season and Lacy was the top rated back who went 13 picks lower than Escobar. He would have been a great value pick and would have been excellent in short yardage situations and spelling Murray. Nothing against Escobar but he's not being used. He only has 8 catches this season and hasn't caught a pass in 5 games. It appeared the Cowboys were going to finally get him involved after week 7 when he caught 3 passes 2 for TD's but he's caught only one pass since. So far he's been another wasted #2 pick.

 

[Zman5]

you know witten was not a good blocker when he came out. but he learned and escobar is getting better and will get stronger and learn to block very well just like witten did

I'm sure he can but if your intention is for your TEs to block better, you don't draft a TE in the 2nd round that can't block and needs few year to get better.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Are you suggesting that no good defensive players went after pick 47 in Escobar's draft?

The issue isn't even that there were all these "studs" that went after Escobar or that Escobar isn't a good player, the issue is that we spent a 2nd round pick on a 2nd TE that doesn't even get opportunities. Those resources would have been better spent elsewhere if you aren't going to use the player in the roll that got him to be a 2nd round pick coming out of measly San Diego State - catching passes.

It's a GM's job to consider all this stuff, and Jerry has made up for it by bringing in some great offensive line talent, but let's not pretend that all these offensive guys we've drafted have been well utilized.

I'm just wondering what "studs" we passed up? And what "studs" did they consider? Because I assumed they took the picks they took because they felt comfortable in those guys developing into solid players. If they felt a defensive player was there worth taking i'd think they would've made that happen right?

Two quickly come to mind for me. For Escobar, Tyrann Mathieu. In the later rounds, Micah Hyde for Randle.

Both players would likely start and be better than what we are fielding in an awful secondary right now.

It is not about acquiring "studs".

It is about team building and depth where it is needed most.

Escobar and Randle could drop off this team tomorrow and the cumulative impact would be minimal.

Tyrann Matheiu? The head case from LSU? The Honey Badger? The reason why the Cardinals were getting dominated by tight ends last season? He's a in hindsight pick. Micah Hyde...solid player. I wouldn't have been opposed to him coming here. But that Honey Badger....you guys know well enough to know he was never a option. He was a 1st round talent who had slip because of his off the field issues and size.

I would rather have Bennie Logan and/or Jon Hankins at this point to Escobar. Escobar does not play.

Fair enough. I think Escobar will at some point pay off but I can't say anything about that since the coaches won't play him and Witten is still in this roster and still effective. But I would hardly call Bennie Logan a "stud". Fletcher Cox? Okay.

Well my feelings are do you. Be a man. Be original. That's pretty childish to me. Beating the team and doing his own celebration (if he had one) would be degrading enough. When you resort to doing another man's hook it says more about you than him.

It's just like the haters who come out of their hole whenever the Cowboys get in a slump. It's school yard BS.

I told this guy on Twitter: I dislike all the other NFCE teams, but you don't see me on their Boards or following them on Twitter to mock them. When they lose is enough for me. I have more productive things to do.

He is doing him. McCoy is McCoy. Players do it all the time. Dez Bryant was doing Lebron's celebration....is he not doing him?

Its sports. You can do what you want when you back it up. Our frustration should be with our team. Not what McCoy did. Well I Take that back. It should be towards McCoy running all over us and having his best game of the year.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

If the plan was to run more Eddie Lacy should have been the pick I said that on draft day 2013. Murray was coming off an injury plagued season and Lacy was the top rated back who went 13 picks lower than Escobar. He would have been a great value pick and would have been excellent in short yardage situations and spelling Murray. Nothing against Escobar but he's not being used. He only has 8 catches this season and hasn't caught a pass in 5 games. It appeared the Cowboys were going to finally get him involved after week 7 when he caught 3 passes 2 for TD's but he's caught only one pass since. So far he's been another wasted #2 pick.

Eddy Lacy? You're a fan of Eddy Lacy? I think i'd rather have Escobar than him. I think i'd rather take Randle in the 5th round than waste a 2nd rounder on him.

 

[Roadtrip635]

The Escobar pick was always a head scratcher to me. JG had never shown the ability to utilize 2 TE sets very well. We had MartyB, probably the best blocking TE at the time and has shown the ability to make plays in the passing game and Ginger Clap never used him. Phillips had shown some promise as well, but yet another under-utilized #2 TE. It's not the players, it's the schemes and the offenses ability to utilize their resources. Escobar has some ability, but why waste a 2nd rd. pick on a player when you don't know how to use, again?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Exactly my point. Some people here believe JG and Jerry has this grand plan. We all just need to wait 8 years to see it all come to fruition while you have guys like Chip Kelly, Harbaugh brothers, and Bruce Arians doing more in less time.

All JG has done is try to copy others. First it was the Partriots Now it's the 49ners/Seattle. Next year it'll probably be the EaGirls offense.

You're talking like we're 3 and 11 right now.....we're in the middle of a playof push and everyone seems defeated.

 

[Sportsbabe]

I'm just wondering what "studs" we passed up? And what "studs" did they consider? Because I assumed they took the picks they took because they felt comfortable in those guys developing into solid players. If they felt a defensive player was there worth taking i'd think they would've made that happen right?



Tyrann Matheiu? The head case from LSU? The Honey Badger? The reason why the Cardinals were getting dominated by tight ends last season? He's a in hindsight pick. Micah Hyde...solid player. I wouldn't have been opposed to him coming here. But that Honey Badger....you guys know well enough to know he was never a option. He was a 1st round talent who had slip because of his off the field issues and size.



Fair enough. I think Escobar will at some point pay off but I can't say anything about that since the coaches won't play him and Witten is still in this roster and still effective. But I would hardly call Bennie Logan a "stud". Fletcher Cox? Okay.



He is doing him. McCoy is McCoy. Players do it all the time. Dez Bryant was doing Lebron's celebration....is he not doing him?

Its sports. You can do what you want when you back it up. Our frustration should be with our team. Not what McCoy did. Well I Take that back. It should be towards McCoy running all over us and having his best game of the year.

Dez is not doing LeBron's celebration to LeBron to mock him. Come on man/woman.

 

[KJJ]

Eddy Lacy? You're a fan of Eddy Lacy? I think i'd rather have Escobar than him. I think i'd rather take Randle in the 5th round than waste a 2nd rounder on him.

Have you not watched Lacy? He's a powerful downhill runner who can wear down defenses. He's not playing behind near the run blocking OL in Green Bay that the Cowboys have so don't let his 2014 rushing numbers mislead you. He's averaging 4.4 a carry with 6 TD's and has been excellent coming out of the backfield with 29 receptions for 335 yards. He had a 67 yard reception and a 56 yarder for a score. He's had 3 receiving TD's this season. Lacy is a LOAD just watch some of the tackles he's broke this season. Put him behind the Cowboys OL and he would be an absolute beast! He and Murray would have given the Cowboys the best one-two punch in the league at RB. Had we drafted Lacy the Cowboys wouldn't have needed to use a 5th on Randle. So you honestly would rather have Escobar than Lacy??? In 28 games all the Cowboys have gotten out of Escobar is 17 catches for 233 yards and 5 TD's. Marty B produced 20 catches for 283 yards and 4 TD's his rookie season.

On another team that doesn't have a Jason Witten or the receiving talent the Cowboys have Escobar would probably be very productive but he's not getting an opportunity. Had the Cowboys drafted Lacy he wouldn't have been running all over the Cowboys with a bad ankle last season. Lacy put up 141 yards on the Cowboys and scored the game winning TD in the final moments. He averaged 6.7 yards a carry in that game. When Murray was out with an injury he would have provided production in his absence. Even with a healthy Murray Lacy would have gotten plenty of opportunities to carry the football and would have been an excellent situational back in short yardage. I would swap both Randle and Escobar for Eddie Lacy.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Dez is not doing LeBron's celebration to LeBron to mock him. Come on man/woman.

But you said McCoy should be original. Is Dez being original? McCoy won. He backed it up. He can essentially dance on the star if he wants. His team won. And won convincingly. They won this game in the 1st quarter.

 

[Zman5]

You're talking like we're 3 and 11 right now.....we're in the middle of a playof push and everyone seems defeated.

This thread is about drafting defense instead of Escobar. We could be 12-0 and I would still make the same point in this thread. I don't know how anybody could be happy about drafting a player in a 2nd round that hardly gets to contribute. Especially on a team that lacks talent on defense.

Maybe if we would have drafted defense, we may have a better defense and be 10-2 and not 8-4.

 

[bodi]

What stud did we pass up for Escobar, Street, Randle, etc.?

as Benny Logan for Esc - I do that in a min